First official day of winter in balmy Colorado and my riding buddy (tall son) and I went on a ride. We got in 18 miles and he started to poop out. This occurred, mainly because this was his first ride since October (basketball, school etc.) and he just had to take off and leave me in the dust. Yes, he smoked me and smoked me good, oh to be a kid again. He hadn’t had to wait for me that long in over a year. But he paid for it, he was wiped. We were hoping to get in a couple of more rides in but, we are in Colorado and the snow has come. We haven’t been much over 45 degrees since the first week of December or over 35 degrees since the 21st. We have had pretty blue skies though. Speaking of my riding buddy, I am sitting in the waiting room of a cardiology unit waiting for them to complete a heart procedure on him. It’s taking a little longer than expected but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Anyway this is keeping my elderly mind as focused as an elderly mind can get.
I gained a couple of pounds this past week but it was mainly alcohol related so I will need to work a little harder to get it back off. Maybe I will try a snow shovel instead of the blower. Better yet, maybe I will pop open a Mike’s and re-think that one.
I hope you all had a great Christmas and will have a Safe, but Fun, New years Eve.
Ride Hard, Ride Safe, Stay Warm
“G”
Monday, December 28, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
The Rides Continue
A month without a post, some blog artiest I am.
The health has improved and as we are into the full blown silly season there is good news. Before the deep freeze (Colorado version) and the annoying snow made it’s photo opportunity visit, I was able to get in two rides.
For those of you, for what ever reason, needed to stop your riding for an extended period there is great hope. I had been off the bike almost two months and extremely fearful that my first ride would bring back bad memories of fighting to crank out five miles. I took it easy and shot for a slow twenty miles. Didn’t make the mileage I wanted but again I had just overcame pneumonia. I did manage to get in fourteen miles with an average of 12.1 mph. A full 1 mph average slower than two months ago but about 5 mph faster than I thought I would. If it wasn’t for enormous needs to stop four times to hack out the rest of the pneumonia I’m sure I would have hit that twenty mile mark. I was enthused enough about my highly unexpected ride results that I went out the next day as soon as the temperature came up to fifty degrees, remember I’m a fair weather rider. I got out on my favorite route and before I knew it I was home. Nice ride everything was bright, pretty and fresh looking and of course I ended up way over dressed. The best mental boost though was I did a little over twenty miles at an average of 13.1 mph. Back to where I was two months ago, yea me!! My enthusiasm was raised to a level I hadn’t experience in a few months. As I was eating my typical after ride snack, a can of tuna out of the can, (really high in protein for eating after exercise) I was thinking of extending the ride for the next morning. As all good things may have a slight down side, the next morning after shoveling snow for three hours I went straight for the tuna. So is life in Colorado.
Looking back on this whole situation I have came to some very good conclusions. The effort I have put in over the last twenty months or so has changed my metabolism. It has changed so much in fact that over the 2 month hiatus, not only did I not gain any weight but I lost another ten pounds. Now this isn’t “Biggest Looser” weight loss but I believe that it is a slow loss that has not just dropped the pounds but changed my metabolism to a life changing event. While I am on this high I get an email from Kaiser Permanente that states due to my weight and health over the years of service with them they have declined to insure me further. That was from attempting to change a group policy over to an individual family policy. They did take two of the four of us though so I guess I should be half way thank full.
For you guys that are still riding and especially the one commuter that goes in front of my house every week day, even during a snow storm, Your insane, but I admire the heck out of you.
Till Next Time Stay Warm and Ride When You Can
“G”
P.S. Since I am a politically incorrect type of guy, Merry Christmas to all of you, enjoy your family, life is short.
The health has improved and as we are into the full blown silly season there is good news. Before the deep freeze (Colorado version) and the annoying snow made it’s photo opportunity visit, I was able to get in two rides.
For those of you, for what ever reason, needed to stop your riding for an extended period there is great hope. I had been off the bike almost two months and extremely fearful that my first ride would bring back bad memories of fighting to crank out five miles. I took it easy and shot for a slow twenty miles. Didn’t make the mileage I wanted but again I had just overcame pneumonia. I did manage to get in fourteen miles with an average of 12.1 mph. A full 1 mph average slower than two months ago but about 5 mph faster than I thought I would. If it wasn’t for enormous needs to stop four times to hack out the rest of the pneumonia I’m sure I would have hit that twenty mile mark. I was enthused enough about my highly unexpected ride results that I went out the next day as soon as the temperature came up to fifty degrees, remember I’m a fair weather rider. I got out on my favorite route and before I knew it I was home. Nice ride everything was bright, pretty and fresh looking and of course I ended up way over dressed. The best mental boost though was I did a little over twenty miles at an average of 13.1 mph. Back to where I was two months ago, yea me!! My enthusiasm was raised to a level I hadn’t experience in a few months. As I was eating my typical after ride snack, a can of tuna out of the can, (really high in protein for eating after exercise) I was thinking of extending the ride for the next morning. As all good things may have a slight down side, the next morning after shoveling snow for three hours I went straight for the tuna. So is life in Colorado.
Looking back on this whole situation I have came to some very good conclusions. The effort I have put in over the last twenty months or so has changed my metabolism. It has changed so much in fact that over the 2 month hiatus, not only did I not gain any weight but I lost another ten pounds. Now this isn’t “Biggest Looser” weight loss but I believe that it is a slow loss that has not just dropped the pounds but changed my metabolism to a life changing event. While I am on this high I get an email from Kaiser Permanente that states due to my weight and health over the years of service with them they have declined to insure me further. That was from attempting to change a group policy over to an individual family policy. They did take two of the four of us though so I guess I should be half way thank full.
For you guys that are still riding and especially the one commuter that goes in front of my house every week day, even during a snow storm, Your insane, but I admire the heck out of you.
Till Next Time Stay Warm and Ride When You Can
“G”
P.S. Since I am a politically incorrect type of guy, Merry Christmas to all of you, enjoy your family, life is short.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Things Go Further South
Wow, on my post last week things were looking up. This week I’m looking up to where I was at last week, but still looking up. Not wanting to go to the doctor, the typical man attitude, I figured things would improve, they always do. Wrong! The doctor told me that the pneumonia could be coming or going. Best bet, its going since I waited so long to go in. I mentioned my logic of finally making an appointment was that if I took up his and his staff time I would suddenly be better and there would be nothing to check me for. It didn’t quite work this time but he did understand the logic. He said next time I get sick, make the appointment sooner and I’ll get better sooner. Now that could go to either theory but I think he got me on that one, I was too miserable to tell at the time.
So I have been looking out the window at this lovely Colorado, November weather, mid 60’s to mid 70’s, watching the multiple groups of riders going by. Seeing the bike commuters during the week come out again in shorts. I take the couple of steps down to my garage floor and look at my lonely, reliable ride. As I think what could be I start gasping for breath that brings on the cough that reminds me of the sore ribs that all would have been gone if I would have called the doctor sooner so the symptoms would go away and there would have been nothing to diagnose. Oh, the web we sometimes weave for ourselves. There is always a bright side though, I’m half way through the 10 day medicine regiment and I’m not wheezing and coughing when I move, at least as often. I’m anxious to see just where my training has actually gone and how much I will have to make up which is actually exciting. In the mean time as I can move and breath for longer periods of time I see a good cleaning in the future, for the bike of course. Plus I figured I have 1387 miles on the chain so I may splurge and replace it now before I mess up the whole drive train.
In the meantime, I will attempt to improve my ability of understanding Windows and attempt to decide on updating to Windows 7 from XP. Yeah like that will ever make sense.
Till Next Post, Ride Safe and Stay Warm
“G”
So I have been looking out the window at this lovely Colorado, November weather, mid 60’s to mid 70’s, watching the multiple groups of riders going by. Seeing the bike commuters during the week come out again in shorts. I take the couple of steps down to my garage floor and look at my lonely, reliable ride. As I think what could be I start gasping for breath that brings on the cough that reminds me of the sore ribs that all would have been gone if I would have called the doctor sooner so the symptoms would go away and there would have been nothing to diagnose. Oh, the web we sometimes weave for ourselves. There is always a bright side though, I’m half way through the 10 day medicine regiment and I’m not wheezing and coughing when I move, at least as often. I’m anxious to see just where my training has actually gone and how much I will have to make up which is actually exciting. In the mean time as I can move and breath for longer periods of time I see a good cleaning in the future, for the bike of course. Plus I figured I have 1387 miles on the chain so I may splurge and replace it now before I mess up the whole drive train.
In the meantime, I will attempt to improve my ability of understanding Windows and attempt to decide on updating to Windows 7 from XP. Yeah like that will ever make sense.
Till Next Post, Ride Safe and Stay Warm
“G”
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Training and The H1N1
Well today is the 28th of October three days before the little ghouls and goblins, one day after the premier of the Michael Jackson, over hyped (son and I went to the 10:00 pm showing last night) “This is It” movie, two days after not having a fever over 100 degrees in a week and finally, Twenty Eight days after the H1N1 hit our house. Now there is an opening sentence for you. Yes the H1N1 is hitting everyone in a little bit different of a way and I was not even suppose to be in the age group that was susceptible to it.
I have found that the occasional break from my recreational enjoyment (training) has worked out to be of a great benefit, but a month break between being sick and the weather, scares me. While this month has seen temperatures in the eighties, November is scheduled to start in the sixties yet, the high today was thirty degrees and we will be looking at fourteen inches of snow by the time it stops tomorrow. This means a long, unexpected layoff at a time were the weather will be the dictator of my ride schedules for the next five months. My only hope is there will be plenty of good weather in between the occasional annoyances we call white gold. The worst of this is the effects from flu. I am very proud of what my fitness level has become over the past eighteen months or so. As I sit here hunt and pecking out this nonsense on my keyboard, I can hear the gurgling in my chest with every breath that breaks into a seemingly endless deep cough every two minutes, with nothing coming out. From being able to return from a forty mile ride and have my resting heart rate of seventy two back within a minute and a half to walking up the stairs gasping for breath in less than a month is hard to take. I have lost ten more pounds but not the good pounds. The definition in my legs has dwindled as well as my arms. Most disheartening though, ladies you can appreciate this, I have gained some lose skin over my normally tight gluts, go figure. It will all get better, I know this for a fact. The problem is, as the body ages it is harder to get back what you lose. This is going to be a very interesting winter. I have faith that since I am not an elite athlete, I will not have that much to regain. I worry that since I am not an elite athlete that I will not be able to regain what I lost. It’s all a vicious circle that lets me know I need to get a life.
Till Next Post, Ride Safe and Stay Warm
“G”
I have found that the occasional break from my recreational enjoyment (training) has worked out to be of a great benefit, but a month break between being sick and the weather, scares me. While this month has seen temperatures in the eighties, November is scheduled to start in the sixties yet, the high today was thirty degrees and we will be looking at fourteen inches of snow by the time it stops tomorrow. This means a long, unexpected layoff at a time were the weather will be the dictator of my ride schedules for the next five months. My only hope is there will be plenty of good weather in between the occasional annoyances we call white gold. The worst of this is the effects from flu. I am very proud of what my fitness level has become over the past eighteen months or so. As I sit here hunt and pecking out this nonsense on my keyboard, I can hear the gurgling in my chest with every breath that breaks into a seemingly endless deep cough every two minutes, with nothing coming out. From being able to return from a forty mile ride and have my resting heart rate of seventy two back within a minute and a half to walking up the stairs gasping for breath in less than a month is hard to take. I have lost ten more pounds but not the good pounds. The definition in my legs has dwindled as well as my arms. Most disheartening though, ladies you can appreciate this, I have gained some lose skin over my normally tight gluts, go figure. It will all get better, I know this for a fact. The problem is, as the body ages it is harder to get back what you lose. This is going to be a very interesting winter. I have faith that since I am not an elite athlete, I will not have that much to regain. I worry that since I am not an elite athlete that I will not be able to regain what I lost. It’s all a vicious circle that lets me know I need to get a life.
Till Next Post, Ride Safe and Stay Warm
“G”
Monday, October 5, 2009
The Annoyances Continue
Annoyance 1 – The H1N1 hit our household last weekend which has made for a long week. Missed school, throbbing heads, if the temperature has been above 50 degrees the wind was over 30 mph. Results I feel miserable and not a single ride nor mile added to my summer totals.
Annoyance 2 – While sitting/laying around moaning and wanting to curl up in a hole (yes its a man thing) I get my new issue of Bicycling. That wonderful information filled magazine that still believes that all of their readers are 150 lbs, have a unrestricted flow of money with no visible means of support and are elite cyclists. Now don't get me wrong, I love that magazine, and have gained some priceless tips and information from actually reading between the pictures of the shiny bobbles dangled in front of our egos and empty wallets. But, when you read a monthly article like “Chow Time” ( the November issue page 37) then read the, “* Based on a 150-pound cyclist”, I wonder how about the real life cyclist that aren't so bulimic. Then on page 70, (same issue) “A Flat is...”, a great article on tire air pressure. This is a subject that you can't get a straight answer let alone the same answer from anyone you may ask. The information is reasonable, except maybe the thought of figuring in of barometric pressure, but again the chart covers riders weighting between 110 and 180. Now if I didn't feel so miserable this probable would not have phased me but come on, my 15 year old is 165 lbs 6' 1” and skinny as a rail. Sometimes the bicycling media can be very far removed from the real bicycling population. Same issue, 3, 4, and $7000.00 plus bikes with separate full page reviews and a few pages later, 3 under $1000.00 women bikes crammed into 1 page. When was the last time you went into your favorite bike shop and perused the racks of 4 thousand dollar plus bikes. Yes they may have one or two but they know that the elite don't shop. The money in the bicycling industry comes from the recreational rider, the ones that ride the neighborhood with their kids to those that ride 1, 2 or more centuries a month from spring to fall and all of us in between. They take the money we worked hard for and give, yes give the shiny bobbles to the elite. The industry should though, the elite riders work harder for what they do more than anyone can possibly imagine. If, say 9% of the cyclists are in the elite category maybe 25%, of them, can actually make a good life by doing it. If we could all be Lance Armstrong we would be. How does this all come together, bottom line the bicycle media needs to realize it's audience. I love the articles of the big events and the behind the scene peeks of the elites but throw in a little more realistic and obtainable articles and reviews for the average rec rider with 2 kids and a mortgage. I am bicycling !
Annoyance 3 – I didn't make my 300 mile goal for September (only 243), or the 1000 mile summer (only 964.5), but did make my mortgage, make a family road trip, made it to 5 of my older son's Sunday basketball games so far, dealt with real life and still managed to give the bicycle industries a couple thousand dollars. After all , I understand the economy is down and I must do my part to support the recovery and it didn't have a thing to do with supporting highway sign makers.
Till Next Post, Ride Safe and Stay Warm
“G”
Annoyance 2 – While sitting/laying around moaning and wanting to curl up in a hole (yes its a man thing) I get my new issue of Bicycling. That wonderful information filled magazine that still believes that all of their readers are 150 lbs, have a unrestricted flow of money with no visible means of support and are elite cyclists. Now don't get me wrong, I love that magazine, and have gained some priceless tips and information from actually reading between the pictures of the shiny bobbles dangled in front of our egos and empty wallets. But, when you read a monthly article like “Chow Time” ( the November issue page 37) then read the, “* Based on a 150-pound cyclist”, I wonder how about the real life cyclist that aren't so bulimic. Then on page 70, (same issue) “A Flat is...”, a great article on tire air pressure. This is a subject that you can't get a straight answer let alone the same answer from anyone you may ask. The information is reasonable, except maybe the thought of figuring in of barometric pressure, but again the chart covers riders weighting between 110 and 180. Now if I didn't feel so miserable this probable would not have phased me but come on, my 15 year old is 165 lbs 6' 1” and skinny as a rail. Sometimes the bicycling media can be very far removed from the real bicycling population. Same issue, 3, 4, and $7000.00 plus bikes with separate full page reviews and a few pages later, 3 under $1000.00 women bikes crammed into 1 page. When was the last time you went into your favorite bike shop and perused the racks of 4 thousand dollar plus bikes. Yes they may have one or two but they know that the elite don't shop. The money in the bicycling industry comes from the recreational rider, the ones that ride the neighborhood with their kids to those that ride 1, 2 or more centuries a month from spring to fall and all of us in between. They take the money we worked hard for and give, yes give the shiny bobbles to the elite. The industry should though, the elite riders work harder for what they do more than anyone can possibly imagine. If, say 9% of the cyclists are in the elite category maybe 25%, of them, can actually make a good life by doing it. If we could all be Lance Armstrong we would be. How does this all come together, bottom line the bicycle media needs to realize it's audience. I love the articles of the big events and the behind the scene peeks of the elites but throw in a little more realistic and obtainable articles and reviews for the average rec rider with 2 kids and a mortgage. I am bicycling !
Annoyance 3 – I didn't make my 300 mile goal for September (only 243), or the 1000 mile summer (only 964.5), but did make my mortgage, make a family road trip, made it to 5 of my older son's Sunday basketball games so far, dealt with real life and still managed to give the bicycle industries a couple thousand dollars. After all , I understand the economy is down and I must do my part to support the recovery and it didn't have a thing to do with supporting highway sign makers.
Till Next Post, Ride Safe and Stay Warm
“G”
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Changes I See on the Road
As I have been getting back into my riding routine this month, I’m sitting at 180 miles, I have made some pleasant observations. Riders are talking to each other, that is good for all of us. The matching spandex wrapped, go fast guys, (I do envy you) are saying, on your left as they blow by, with room to spare. As they come towards me they acknowledge me with a nod or a simple raise of the fingers, not just one but all of the fingers. As I stop here and there on my route other riders, of all different levels, stop next me, not 30 feet away, and talk riding. Riders, again of different skill levels, will slow as they pass and exchange a few pleasant words. The biking population seems to be getting warm and fuzzy, we all win.
I would like to think my incoherent ranting here the last few months may take some of the credit and people have taken a second look at what their actions were communicating. Maybe it has been all of the waves and pleasant greetings I have given out this past year have actually caught on. Wouldn’t it be nice if one person could make that much positive change in the world so everyone would just enjoy what they were doing and took the time for one another? But then I don’t have that size of an ego, well maybe on occasion.
In reality, it’s more like the end of the riding season will soon be close and us recreational riders are beginning to thin out (wow, that was a fitting play on words). Those of us that are still out there are die hard and still find the time with shorter and cooler days. That may be camaraderie that deserves the acknowledgement. If it deserves the acknowledgement now, what was wrong with May, July and the rest of the year? Come on now, if we can do it as the season winds down how about the rest of the time. We are all out there with our health and well being in mind, lets spread a little of that to our minds and our mental health, enjoy the ride and the riders around you, you will live longer, life is short.
More changes? The weather is great. We are coming into the best time of the year in Colorado. Pleasant temperature and the ability for those evening rides after work with out the fear of thunder storms and ninety degree heat. Not a big deal but still a minor observation. Which brings up the idea of how long will us die hard people be able to ride. There are a bunch of you that will ride in much colder weather than I will, but I’m looking forward to getting in quite a few days in the deep winter months, like last year.
As far as personal changes go, to show that persistence does work. I had two pair of brand new XL Performance Elite bike shorts (great padding) I bought the beginning of August. Before I took the tags off of one of them I needed to return them for a Large. That is real progress! Not to mention I have found that on occasion I have actually passed a rider or two. Yes, I give words of encouragement as I go by.
Till the next post, be friendly out there.
Next Post; Something That My Son Will Approve Of
Ride Safe Out There, and Don’t Run Me Over (please)
“G”
I would like to think my incoherent ranting here the last few months may take some of the credit and people have taken a second look at what their actions were communicating. Maybe it has been all of the waves and pleasant greetings I have given out this past year have actually caught on. Wouldn’t it be nice if one person could make that much positive change in the world so everyone would just enjoy what they were doing and took the time for one another? But then I don’t have that size of an ego, well maybe on occasion.
In reality, it’s more like the end of the riding season will soon be close and us recreational riders are beginning to thin out (wow, that was a fitting play on words). Those of us that are still out there are die hard and still find the time with shorter and cooler days. That may be camaraderie that deserves the acknowledgement. If it deserves the acknowledgement now, what was wrong with May, July and the rest of the year? Come on now, if we can do it as the season winds down how about the rest of the time. We are all out there with our health and well being in mind, lets spread a little of that to our minds and our mental health, enjoy the ride and the riders around you, you will live longer, life is short.
More changes? The weather is great. We are coming into the best time of the year in Colorado. Pleasant temperature and the ability for those evening rides after work with out the fear of thunder storms and ninety degree heat. Not a big deal but still a minor observation. Which brings up the idea of how long will us die hard people be able to ride. There are a bunch of you that will ride in much colder weather than I will, but I’m looking forward to getting in quite a few days in the deep winter months, like last year.
As far as personal changes go, to show that persistence does work. I had two pair of brand new XL Performance Elite bike shorts (great padding) I bought the beginning of August. Before I took the tags off of one of them I needed to return them for a Large. That is real progress! Not to mention I have found that on occasion I have actually passed a rider or two. Yes, I give words of encouragement as I go by.
Till the next post, be friendly out there.
Next Post; Something That My Son Will Approve Of
Ride Safe Out There, and Don’t Run Me Over (please)
“G”
Sunday, September 6, 2009
My Training With S.W.A.G.
For those of you that did not read my last post, the definition of S.W.A.G. is Scientific Wild A_ _ Guess. That is my training bible that allows me to listen, read and glean from this and that to make my body work better. The key to this plan is, My Body. Again, if you have been reading my mixed bag of thought wondering you have noticed that I am big on listening to your own body. Thought wondering, I like that much better than what is known around our house as senior moments. Wow, I’m having one now. Bottom line, can S.W.A.G. work?
April (ish) 2008 I was finishing physical therapy for my right wrist being fused together. My Therapist and workman comp. Dr. talked me into bicycling again. I was over weight turned into a couch potato, since I had been in a cast or brace for the better part of a year. I got back on my Trek mountain bike remembering the joy I had had about 13 years earlier. I got in 5 miles and was sucking some serious air wondering what the hell happened. 30 years of being a cop with crappy eating habits couldn’t have anything to do with it. The fact that I was getting ready to, per my son, enter my 6th decade absolutely did not have anything to do with it, I feel like when I was 30, 3 decades ago?
As for today and SWAG, it’s slow but it has worked. I have lost, as of this morning, right at 65 lbs. When I started my training log last August I was averaging 12.1 mph on 12 mile rides. Not very impressive! At the end of this July, I was averaging 13.1 mph averaging 25.6 mile rides. The biggest accomplishment, I believe, is that I have been open to ideas and learned from many different Medias. There are other things in my log that show this. My cadence, last August I averaged 52 rpm, a year later 70. Still not impressive but for someone that was that out of shape I’m still going and having fun, I’ll take it, I’m not planning to qualify for Le Tour De France.
Have I hit plateaus? Yes just like the professional plans but I experimented and broke through in a way that was far from being conventional. I had dropped right at 55 lbs up to May of this year, a pound a week very slow and almost discouraging but an excellent way to lose. From May through the end of July I rode 881.75 miles, remember 17 months ago I was breathing hard at 5 miles. Have I improved? My weight loss, +2, talk about frustration. Yes I have heard all of the stories and pep talks about muscle
weighs more than fat. I hate to break the news but as an x-body builder that only goes so far. Especially with a smart-alecky son that lets me know that a tattoo once was in the middle of my bicep and never wrapped around my arm. So what did I do that was unconventional? Timing is everything, we took a family road trip. A week long road trip then a week in Vegas, with the guys, to recuperate from the family road trip. Bad food way too much alcohol and no riding. I lost 5 lbs and broke the plateau, go figure. Since getting back from Vegas I have ridden 125.8 miles in 6 days, lost another 5, every body is different.
Do I have bad days, Oh Yea I do! Some days I wonder if I will get home or over that next incline but I always make it, kind of like life and that song. “Sometimes you’re the bug and sometimes you’re the windshield”. Do I have bad habits? Yes we all do but I’m trying to work on them. I really need to find someone to ride with that is a speck faster. I need to try to keep up with people rather than just let them go by and watch them get smaller. But most of all I need to start riding some 8 to 10,000 foot climbs. I can not climb for anything, but that fear of what your body will really do for you is always lingering in the back of my mind, sound familiar?
Ok enough of my senior moments, if you have stuck to the end of this, my condolences, but thank you. Now go outside and breathe real air!
Next Post; Changes I See on the Road
Ride Safe Out There, and Don’t Run Me Over (please)
“G”
April (ish) 2008 I was finishing physical therapy for my right wrist being fused together. My Therapist and workman comp. Dr. talked me into bicycling again. I was over weight turned into a couch potato, since I had been in a cast or brace for the better part of a year. I got back on my Trek mountain bike remembering the joy I had had about 13 years earlier. I got in 5 miles and was sucking some serious air wondering what the hell happened. 30 years of being a cop with crappy eating habits couldn’t have anything to do with it. The fact that I was getting ready to, per my son, enter my 6th decade absolutely did not have anything to do with it, I feel like when I was 30, 3 decades ago?
As for today and SWAG, it’s slow but it has worked. I have lost, as of this morning, right at 65 lbs. When I started my training log last August I was averaging 12.1 mph on 12 mile rides. Not very impressive! At the end of this July, I was averaging 13.1 mph averaging 25.6 mile rides. The biggest accomplishment, I believe, is that I have been open to ideas and learned from many different Medias. There are other things in my log that show this. My cadence, last August I averaged 52 rpm, a year later 70. Still not impressive but for someone that was that out of shape I’m still going and having fun, I’ll take it, I’m not planning to qualify for Le Tour De France.
Have I hit plateaus? Yes just like the professional plans but I experimented and broke through in a way that was far from being conventional. I had dropped right at 55 lbs up to May of this year, a pound a week very slow and almost discouraging but an excellent way to lose. From May through the end of July I rode 881.75 miles, remember 17 months ago I was breathing hard at 5 miles. Have I improved? My weight loss, +2, talk about frustration. Yes I have heard all of the stories and pep talks about muscle
weighs more than fat. I hate to break the news but as an x-body builder that only goes so far. Especially with a smart-alecky son that lets me know that a tattoo once was in the middle of my bicep and never wrapped around my arm. So what did I do that was unconventional? Timing is everything, we took a family road trip. A week long road trip then a week in Vegas, with the guys, to recuperate from the family road trip. Bad food way too much alcohol and no riding. I lost 5 lbs and broke the plateau, go figure. Since getting back from Vegas I have ridden 125.8 miles in 6 days, lost another 5, every body is different.
Do I have bad days, Oh Yea I do! Some days I wonder if I will get home or over that next incline but I always make it, kind of like life and that song. “Sometimes you’re the bug and sometimes you’re the windshield”. Do I have bad habits? Yes we all do but I’m trying to work on them. I really need to find someone to ride with that is a speck faster. I need to try to keep up with people rather than just let them go by and watch them get smaller. But most of all I need to start riding some 8 to 10,000 foot climbs. I can not climb for anything, but that fear of what your body will really do for you is always lingering in the back of my mind, sound familiar?
Ok enough of my senior moments, if you have stuck to the end of this, my condolences, but thank you. Now go outside and breathe real air!
Next Post; Changes I See on the Road
Ride Safe Out There, and Don’t Run Me Over (please)
“G”
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